Enviromental Safety Specialist - Environmental Health & Safety

The Environmental Health & Safety department at West Virginia University is currently accepting applications for a Safety Associate / Specialist.

About the Opportunity

The Safety Associate / Specialist will plan, develop, manage and implement various occupational safety and health programs. Continually review programs to ensure effectiveness and continual improvement.

We strongly believe in work-life balance and keeping time for things we love outside our work. WVU offers generous benefits, including:

• 37.5-hour work week
• 13 paid holidays (staff holiday calendar)
• 24 annual leave (vacation) days per year (employee leave)
• 18 sick days per year (for when you're ill, for when you need time to care for sick family, for your own, or your family's, regularly scheduled medical appointments. Who is family for the purpose of this leave? A lot of people in your life including immediate relatives and in-laws as well as others considered to be members of your household living under the same roof)
• WVU offers a range of health insurance and other benefits
• 401(a) retirement savings with 6% employee contribution match, eligibility to continue health insurance, and other retiree perks. Looking for more retirement benefits information? Check out retirement health insurance benefits, retirement income, and FAQ's.
• Wellness programs

What You'll Do

• Investigate injuries and illness and make recommendations for prevention. Follow-up on incidents to ensure effective corrective action is in place.
• Provide support and assist with management of accident and injury logs as well as support of workers compensation program.
• Respond effectively to various incidents, emergencies, indoor air quality complaints and building issues as needed.
• Develop and conduct educational and informational programs that enhance employee health and safety, property preservation and protection of the environment. Provide any related environmental health and safety training for faculty, staff and students who are exposed to these hazards.
• Provide support and assistance for biosafety and blood borne pathogen programs and training.
• Provide support and assistance to the Industrial Hygiene, Hazardous Materials, Laboratory Safety, Biological Safety, Fire/Life Safety, Construction/Renovation and all other Occupational Safety and Health related programs.
• Conduct industrial hygiene monitoring, response reports and recommendations as needed. Respond to indoor air quality concerns.
• Assist with fire and life safety program according to federal and state regulations.
• Accompany inspectors on inspections and provide response to recommendations for corrective action. Document follow-up and corrective action.
• Provide guidance and assistance relating to the design and construction of construction/renovation projects as it relates to fire, life safety and OSHA.
• Respond to inquiries, supports clients with implementations of multi-disciplinary (laboratory, biosafety, industrial/hygiene occupational health and safety) programs through a service program of plans review, inspections, training, and technical assistance.
• Prepare written and verbal reports, conducts investigations and special projects.
• Educate and assist University administrators and workers toward compliance with the state and federal regulations established by NFPA, OSHA, EPA, WVDEP, ANSI, NIH, DEA and other regulatory/guidance agencies.
• Responsible for monitoring occupational, chemical, and biological safety conditions in campus facilities by performing periodic physical surveys, inspections and reviews.
• Identify unsafe conditions and hazardous situations in work environments, including laboratories; provide recommendations for mitigation, communication improvement needs and follow-up to ensure corrective action has occurred.
• Take action where imminent dangers to life, health, or property are involved.
• Interact with various institutional staff, administrative offices, researchers, service providers and regulatory agencies as required.
• Assist with hazardous waste and biological waste management programs.
• Attend conferences, professional development and training as needed and recommended by supervision.
• Provide guidance and support relating to hazardous materials, hazardous waste and shipping requirements and their conformance to domestic and international shipments of hazardous or otherwise regulated items are made in conformance with applicable regulations governing the licensing, packaging, shipment, and certification of such.
• Review various projects and grant approvals for anticipated hazardous conditions to persons or the environment and for compliance with applicable standards. Collaborate with faculty and staff regarding relevant regulatory issues relating to the project.
• Available to respond to institutional emergencies on a 24-hour basis, as needed. Response may require participation in remedial or containment efforts.
• At the request of the Executive Director or Assistant Director of EHS, employee may assist in the operation or get engaged in activities at other campus or farm locations based on department needs and specific area of responsibility.
• Assist in the operation of other Environmental Health and Safety programs and perform other duties as assigned.
  

• Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Health and Safety, Industrial Hygiene, Safety Management or related field or equivalent experience is required.
• Master's degree in one of the above areas is preferred.
• A minimum of four (4) years of directly related professional experience in environmental health and safety programs including fire and life safety, laboratory safety, chemical hygiene, hazardous materials, biological safety and/or occupational safety.
• Any equivalent combination of related education and/or experience will be considered
• All qualifications must be met by the time of employment

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively in oral and written format.
• Demonstrated ability to utilize a computer and software.
• Demonstrated ability to understand and interpret federal, state, and local health and safety regulation and communicate quantitative and qualitative information.
• Demonstrated ability to use, interpret and apply appropriate regulations to the University environment.
• Demonstrated ability to be creative and to solve complex problems.
• Demonstrated ability to complete assigned tasks frequently in a very limited time frame.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with all levels of personnel within and out of the teaching, research and clinical setting, utilizing skills to negotiate, explain and persuade.
• Demonstrated ability to adapt to a wide variety of work environments.
• Demonstrated ability to establish rapport and maintain a good working relationship with various local, state and federal regulatory agency personnel.
• Demonstrated ability to coordinate and work effectively within project teams and committees.
• Demonstrated ability to manage and administrate assigned health and safety programs as necessary for University to maintain a safe and healthy environment to campus.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and reason logically and strategically.
• Demonstrated ability to wear proper PPE, including, but not limited to, respiratory protection.

• Valid driver's license - Incumbent must drive throughout the state and beyond to perform assigned tasks.
• Must have, or obtain, a minimum of Hazardous Materials Awareness level training within one year. Annual refresher is required.
• National Incident Management Systems (NIMS) ICS-100 and IS-700 certification required within one year in order to respond to emergency situations in an effective capacity.

West Virginia University is a place of purpose and community. We take pride in our profound impact on the state of West Virginia and are committed to the personal and professional growth of our employees.

From the groundbreaking R1 research at our flagship campus in Morgantown to the career-oriented programs at WVU Potomac State in Keyser, and the technology-intensive programs at WVU Tech in Beckley, the contributions of WVU employees resonate across the state, touching lives and shaping futures.

At WVU, you will discover a supportive community that champions work-life balance and fosters a collaborative atmosphere. Our core values - service, curiosity, respect, accountability and appreciation - unite us as Mountaineers.

Join us at West Virginia University, where your work will make a lasting impact. To learn more about WVU, visit wvu.edu.

West Virginia University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We invite all qualified applicants regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, or Veteran status.